Combustion device for an outdoor flame heater

ABSTRACT

A combustion device for outdoor flame heaters includes an improved structure of a burner disposed below a glass tube thereof. The burner has a gas distribution room therein and a plurality of flame holes at a top surface thereof communicating with the gas distribution room and directed towards the glass tube. The flame holes have a diameter which is at least 10 mm for the flame to be in red and yellow, and a piece of metal wire mesh with a sieve size between 20-30 mesh abuts thereto from under in the gas distribution room, so as to construct a structure with a relatively greater diameter above and a relatively lesser diameter below for the flame to be emitted from the glass tube at an appropriate height by chimney effect to enhance the heating effects.

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 13/860,683 filed on Apr. 11, 2013, currently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an outdoor flame heater, particularly to one that has an improved burner disposed below a glass tube to enhance combustion efficiency with easy maintenance and more safety.

2. Description of the Related Art

With reference to FIGS. 1A-1C, the US Patent Publication No. 2010/0236544 A1 discloses an outdoor flame heater 100 including a bottom housing 10 composed of a set of four lower support members 11, a set of four panels 12, and other relative members for installing a gas barrel (not shown); a control box 13 releasing a flame F to a gas flame outlet 141 of a base 14 on a top of control box 13; a set of four upper support members 15 together with a plurality of protection guards 16 forming a space for installing a glass tube 17; and a reflector 19 mounted onto a damper 191 and the damper 191 mounted on the upper plate 18 being affixed to the upper support members 15.

Based on the disclosed features, a flame F in the glass tube 17 is extended upward by the chimney effect, and the thermal energy from the flame F radiates from the glass tube 17 while an upper outlet 171 of the glass tube 17 discharges exhausted gas. Such flame heater 100 not only has a heating function but provides a visual perception of exuberant vitality by looking at the flame F. The flame heater 100 also increases the atmosphere and decoration. According to safety regulations, the overall height of a flame heater is at least 200 cm to avoid potential danger of the flame emitted from a top end of the glass tube 17.

However, the flame heater 100 has some drawbacks. For example, the height of the flame heater is required to be over 200 cm to comply with safety regulations but the height h1 of the flame F produced by a ceramic burner 142 reaches only ½˜⅔ of the glass tube 17, as shown in FIG. 1C; consequently there is no flame at an upper region h2 of the glass tube 17, resulting in low temperature at the upper region h2 and affecting the overall heating effect. Moreover, the ceramic burner 142 is arranged inside the base 14, which is difficult for maintenance. Therefore, there is still room for improvements.

FIG. 1D is an invention disclosed in US Patent Publication No. 2010/0154779. A gas fire device is disclosed to have a burner and a glass tube chimney configured above the burner. The burner further includes a top surface defining a gas distribution room 143 over a gas intake tube 142; and the top surface includes a plurality of tubular flame holes 144 communicating with the gas distribution room 143. The flame holes 144 in the invention have a diameter for the flame emitted to be in a blue color. However, a flame in blue has a lower temperature and less luminance than a flame in red and yellow. Therefore, a flame in red and yellow is more suitable with such device instead of a flame in blue provided in the disclosed invention.

FIGS. 1E and 1F is an invention disclosed in US Patent Publication No. 2010/0162632. An outdoor heater apparatus includes a transparent tube 30 e extending a full length from a burner assembly 12 e to a cover 18 e, and providing an improved visual impression and better aesthetic qualities as the entire tube 30 e having a glowing appearance. The improved appearance also provides an aesthetically pleasing light source and displays an overall pleasing appearance of a heater 10 e as well. Besides, a spark arrester 200 is utilized, including a bottom plate 204, a grate 206, and a top plate 208. The grate 206 is formed by a cylindrical mesh material, and the top plate 208 forms a central opening and attaches to an inner ring 210, an outer ring 212, and a fiberglass wick 214. However, the structure of the spark arrester 200 is for air circulation and avoiding from falling items from the outside; it does not has additional heating functions of infrared thermal radiation, leaving the invention with something to be improved as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater that provides a combustion device to enhance the combustion efficiency and the heating effects for outdoor placement, and to have a structure for easy maintenance and more safety.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention includes a housing with an inside space for installing a gas barrel; a base mounted on the housing, including a gas intake tube and a gas control switch; a burner mounted on the base; a plurality of support members having a bottom end fixed on the housing to define a mounted space therein; a glass tube disposed in the mounted space; the burner including a top surface extending to define a gas distribution room over said gas intake tube; the top surface forming a plurality of tubular flame holes communicating with the gas distribution room and directed towards the glass tube, the top surface extending to a flange surface fastened to the base; a bottom surface of the gas distribution room being connected to the gas intake tube; wherein said flame holes have a diameter which is at least 10 mm for the flame to be in red and yellow, and a piece of metal wire mesh with a sieve size between 20-30 mesh abuts thereto from under in the gas distribution room, so as to construct a structure with a relatively greater diameter above and a relatively lesser diameter below; and a cover covering the burner to delimit an air distribution room between the burner and the cover, the air distribution room receiving gas projected through the flame holes for combustion therein, the cover having a plurality of airflow holes formed therein; a top of the cover having a recessed mounted hole for receiving a bottom end of the glass tube; the glass tube thereby having a lower opening located above the plurality of flame holes and the air distribution room for receiving and guiding a flame therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F are schematic views of a conventional outdoor flame heater;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the burner engaging the base;

FIG. 4A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of area 5 in FIG. 3, illustrating a main structure of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a practical application view of a burner of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 7 is a practical application view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 2-8, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a housing 20, a base 30, a burner 40, a plurality of support members 22, a glass tube 60, and a cover 50.

The housing 20 has an inside space 21 for installing a gas barrel (not shown). The base 30 is mounted on the housing 20 and has a gas intake tube 44 and a gas control switch 45. The burner 40 is mounted on the base 30 and has a lighting device 47 arranged at a side edge thereof. The support members 22 have a bottom end fixed on the housing 20 to define a mounted space 23 therein. The glass tube 60 is disposed in the mounted space 23; the glass tube 60 may be made of quartz glass which is heat-resistant. In this embodiment, the present invention further includes a plurality of protective wire meshes 25 fixed between the support members 22 to avoid contacting the glass tube 60 with high-temperature.

The burner 40 includes a top surface extending to define a gas distribution room 41 over the gas intake tube 44. The top surface further includes a plurality of tubular flame holes 42 communicating with the gas distribution room 41 and directed towards the glass tube 60, and extends to a flange surface 43 to be fastened to the base 30. A bottom surface of the gas distribution room 41 is connected to the gas intake tube 44; and the gas intake tube 44 is connected to the gas control switch 45 and a knob 46 arranged outside the base 30.

The features of the present invention lies in that the flame holes 42 have a diameter D which is at least 10 mm for the flame F to be in red and yellow, and a piece of metal wire mesh 49 with a sieve size 491 between 20-30 mesh abuts thereto from under in the gas distribution room 41, so as to construct a structure with a relatively greater diameter D above and a relatively lesser diameter d below. A conventional flame heater for outdoors has flame holes with a diameter lesser than the diameter D of the present invention; the conventional flame heater therefore emits a flame with light blue color at a height h1 reaching ½ of a glass tube thereof, but the burner 40 of the present invention is able to emits a flame F with red and yellow color with the relatively greater diameter D; the flame F emits at a height h2 reaching ⅔ of the glass tube 60, which is at least ⅓ higher than the height h1 of flame from the convention flame heater. The color of flames varies from many factors, mainly from oxygen supply. A flame in light blue has features as low temperature and low luminance, and a flame in red and yellow has higher temperature and brighter luminance, compared to the blue flame. Moreover, the present invention is able to accumulate the heat energy from the high temperature T of the flame F with a heat-resistant net tube 70 to produce infrared IR; with the heat resistant net tube 70 connecting the glass tube 60, the infrared IR increases the thermal radiation of the heater and is emitted without any obstruction. Also, to prevent the flame F from spreading downwards due to the design of greater diameter D, the present invention further has a piece of metal wire mesh 49 with a sieve size between 20-30 mesh abutting to the flame holes 42 from under in the gas distribution room, constructing a structure with a relatively greater diameter above and a relatively lesser diameter below. Such structure is necessary for the present invention and forms a feature thereof as well.

In this embodiment, the gas distribution room 41 of the burner 40 is a hollow body composed of an upper stamping plate 41 a and a lower stamping plate 41 b, and the flame holes 42 are integrally molded with the upper stamping plate 41 a.

The cover 50 covers the burner 40 to delimit an air distribution room 53 in-between. The air distribution room 53 receives air A and gas projected through the flame holes 42 for combustion therein, and the cover 50 has a plurality of airflow holes 52 formed therein. A top of the cover 50 has a recessed mounted hole 51 for receiving a bottom end of the glass tube 60. The glass tube 60 thereby has a lower opening 61 located above the flame holes 42 and the air distribution room 53 for receiving and guiding the flame F therefrom.

In the embodiment, the housing 20 has a front side corresponding to the base 30. The front side has an opening 26 and the base 30 is exposed to the opening 26. The flange surface 43 of the burner 40 has a plurality of screw holes 431 arranged thereon. A periphery of the cover 50 corresponding to the flange surface 43 has an extended convex ring surface 54 having an external periphery fixed on a support plate 24 on top of the housing 20. The convex ring surface 54 corresponding to the screw holes 431 has a plurality of positioning holes 541 for the convex ring surface 54 to be locked on the flange surface 43 by a plurality of screws 55 and consequently fix the burner 40 and base 30 under the cover 50 as well. Furthermore, the burner 40 and the base 30 are detachable relative to the cover 50 and removably disposed with respect to the opening 26 of the housing 20. The plurality of screws 55 are removably positioned within the screw holes 431. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the burner 40 and the base 30 detached from the cover 50. The present invention is therefore easy for disengaged and maintenance with the disclosed structure.

With reference to FIGS. 5-7, the recessed mounted hole 51 of the cover 50 includes an annular support surface 511 at a bottom edge thereof for positioning the glass tube 60, and the g heat-resistant net tube 70 is arranged near atop of the opening 62 of the glass tube 60.

Referring to FIG. 7, the flame F is thereby emitted from the flame holes 42 along the glass tube 60 up to a top outlet 72 of the heat-resistant net tube 70 by chimney effect to heat up the heat-resistant net tube 70; after accumulating the heat, the heat-resistant net tube 70 would produce infrared IR to increase the thermal radiation of the glass tube 60. On the other hand, exhaust gas in the glass tube 60 outflows from a plurality of meshes 71 of the heat-resistant net tube 70 to a plurality of circulation hole 82 of a bowl-shaped body 80 arranged above and is discharged therefrom.

Based on the features disclosed, a comparison between a conventional outdoor flame heater 100 and the burner 40 of the present invention is shown as following.

The present invention has the structure with a relatively greater diameter D above and a relatively lesser diameter d below, preventing the flame F from spreading downwards, and providing a flame F in red and yellow color to increase the thermal radiation of the infrared IR. On the other hand, a conventional outdoor flame heater has a flame in blue color, which is heat conductive but cannot be applied to additional infrared application. Also, the combustion device of the present invention is able to emit a flame F at a height h3 reaching ⅔ of the glass tube 60, at least ⅓ higher than the height h2 of the flame emitted from a conventional outdoor flame heater. Besides, with the structure of having the heat-resistant net tube 70 connecting the glass tube 60, the heat energy from the high temperature T of the flame F is able to be converted into infrared IR and then to be emitted without obstructions to increase the heating effects. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater, comprising: a housing with an inside space for installing a gas barrel; a base mounted on the housing, including a gas intake tube and a gas control switch; a burner mounted on the base; a plurality of support members having a bottom end fixed on the housing to define a mounted space therein; a glass tube disposed in the mounted space; the burner including a top surface extending to define a gas distribution room over said gas intake tube; the top surface forming a plurality of tubular flame holes communicating with the gas distribution room and directed towards the glass tube, the top surface extending to a flange surface fastened to the base; a bottom surface of the gas distribution room being connected to the gas intake tube; wherein said flame holes have a diameter which is at least 10 mm for the flame to be in red and yellow, and a piece of metal wire mesh with a sieve size between 20-30 mesh abuts thereto from under in the gas distribution room, so as to construct a structure with a relatively greater diameter above and a relatively lesser diameter below; and a cover covering the burner to delimit an air distribution room between the burner and the cover, the air distribution room receiving gas projected through the flame holes for combustion therein, the cover having a plurality of airflow holes formed therein; a top of the cover having a recessed mounted hole for receiving a bottom end of the glass tube; the glass tube thereby having a lower opening located above the plurality of flame holes and the air distribution room for receiving and guiding a flame therefrom.
 2. The improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has a front side corresponding to the base, the front side having an opening and the base being exposed to the opening.
 3. The improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flange surface of the burner has a plurality of screw holes arranged thereon; a periphery of the cover corresponding to the flange surface has an extended convex ring surface having an external periphery fixed on a support plate on top of the housing; the convex ring surface corresponding to the screw holes has a plurality of positioning holes for the convex ring surface to be locked on the flange surface by a plurality of screws and consequently fix the burner and base under the cover as well.
 4. The improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater as claimed in claim 3, wherein the burner and the base are detachable relative to the cover and removably disposed with respect to the opening of the housing, the plurality of screws being removably positioned within the screw holes.
 5. The improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas distribution room of the burner is a hollow body composed of an upper stamping plate and a lower stamping plate, and the plurality of flame holes are integrally molded with the upper stamping plate.
 6. The improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recessed mounted hole of the cover includes an annular support surface at a bottom edge thereof for positioning the glass tube.
 7. The improved combustion device for an outdoor flame heater as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protective wire meshes fixed between the support members. 